Rays ponder Bonds pursuit

5teamparlay · Feb 25, 2008

Team officials have talked about the all-time home run king who has been at the center of the steroids controversy.

RAYS ponder Bonds pursuit of BONDS

The club has talked about whether to make a pitch for the controversial slugger.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Published February 25, 2008
<HR noShade SIZE=1>ST. PETERSBURG - There has been no formal offer, actual wooing or even public displays of affection. But the Rays seem to have at least an eye on Barry Bonds, and team officials have recently talked internally about the all-time home run king who has been at the center of the steroids controversy.
The Rays have weighed the merits of other remaining free agents, such as Mike Piazza and Kenny Lofton, and may not have decided whether to proceed on any of them. In Bonds' case, there would be a lot to think about in balancing what good he could do at the plate and the gate vs. the disruption he could cause in the clubhouse. (Unlike some teams, they also haven't said publicly they wouldn't consider Bonds, either.)
"Our policy is to not comment on any players outside the organization except to say generally that we're committed to improving our roster for 2008 and beyond," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.
Bonds, 43, is seeking a chance to play and, adding to the potential plot, his agent, Jeff Borris, is in Tampa this week. But he wouldn't say Sunday night if, or how much, the Rays were interested.
"I talk to Tampa Bay all the time for a variety of reasons," Borris said.
About Bonds?
"I won't comment on that one way or another. ... There's only so much I can say."
Will you meet with them while you're in the area? "I can't say."
More intrigue? Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg is due in town this week.
Bonds passed Hank Aaron last year to establish a homer record of 762 and is 65 hits shy of 3,000.
Borris said there are "no legal impediments" that would prevent Bonds from playing this season, though he was indicted and pleaded not guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice charges, which allege that he lied when he told a federal grand jury he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. He is asking a judge to dismiss the case.

mike0187 · Feb 25, 2008

I don't like Bonds but I would actually like to see this happen. Would certainly be entertaining. Rays probably wouldn't make the playoffs but could have a big impact on the AL

barman · Feb 25, 2008

I have thought since last spring when Bonds had not yet signed his final one year deal with SanFran that this would be a smart idea for Devil Rays

5teamparlay · Mar 1, 2008

Selig says there's no ban on Barry Bonds

By BOB BAUM, AP Sports WriterSat Mar 1, 6:12 PM ET

Bud Selig says he isn't trying to keep Barry Bonds out of baseball, and the commissioner told the Houston Astros it's up to them whether to have Roger Clemens in their spring training camp.
Selig made the comments in an informal meeting Saturday with reporters at Scottsdale Stadium, where the San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics.
He also confirmed that he met with Giants owner Peter Magowan and that Major League Baseball investigators spoke with the team's general manager, Brian Sabean, about the findings in the Mitchell Report on drugs.
Selig and Magowan sat together for the Cactus League game.
The commissioner declined to offer any other information on the talks but said he still hopes to decide on any punishment as a result of the report by the end of spring training.
"The conversations go on and I said I was going to handle all this on a case-by-case basis," Selig said. "These are very sensitive matters."
Bonds, who passed Hank Aaron to become baseball's home run king last season, was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The indictment accuses him of lying to a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative's involvement in the distribution of steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing substances.
After 15 seasons with San Francisco, Bonds was not re-signed by the Giants after last season and has not hooked on with another club. He has denied ever knowingly using steroids or other illegal performance enhancers.
Selig said he has a personal opinion on whether Bonds should be in baseball, but he would keep it to himself.
"Every club is free to do whatever they want with whom," said Selig, adding that he had not read Bonds' grand jury testimony that was ordered released by a judge on Friday.
When asked if it was appropriate for Clemens to be in Astros camp, Selig said: "I have said to (owner) Drayton McLane and the Houston club that that's a decision they have to make."
Clemens has appeared at the Astros' spring training workouts in Florida, sometimes throwing batting practice to minor leaguers, but has not signed to pitch for any team this season. He does have a 10-year personal services contract with the Astros that starts when he retires.
In the Mitchell Report, Clemens' former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, said he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with steroids and human growth hormone — a charge the pitcher has vehemently denied.
The FBI has opened a probe to determine whether Clemens or McNamee lied in recent testimony to Congress.
Clemens told a House committee that he had never used steroids or HGH. McNamee testified that he injected the pitcher with the drugs.
While not speaking specifically about the Giants, Selig indicated he did not believe any team had been unfairly singled out in the Mitchell Report.
"George Mitchell talked to every team, many owners, almost every general manager," Selig said. "Whatever he came up with, he came up with, but he had access to everybody. He didn't need subpoena power there."

VIEJODINOSAUR · Mar 1, 2008

Bud Selig is doing everything humanly possible to ruin MLB ever since he took over...screw him!

ButI'mTedBell · Mar 1, 2008

As a Ray fan I want no part of Bonds. They've rid their clubhouse of the problem children, and brought in good clubhouse vets in an effort to create a TEAM. Bonds is the antithesis of team. They aren't one player away. If they were? Maybe. That aside, he would never fully get a break from the "home" crowd. Too many fans of opposing teams in this area to fully give the Rays a true home field advantage. Except for maybe the Royals. It's got to be hard enough to hear the crowd roar when Jeter doubles to the gap opposite field if you are a Ray. Imagine adding the constant heckling of Bonds for 70 or so games.

Personally I don't think it will happen, but you never know. He doesn't have many options, and Freidman has said that a decision to sign Bonds wouldn't be decided by money. The attention it would bring would let the country pay closer attention the the Rays, and what's going on here. But I think with the talent they have in place, it's just a matter of time before the country takes notice anyway.

My .02.

Hey 5Team and Barman. Long time. Hope things are well.

barman · Mar 2, 2008

Hey J....see this thread and consider joining us March 28

http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=564677

barman · Mar 2, 2008

Based on some followup coverage I heard, the whole idea of the Feb 25th story was slow news day.

Seems someone said in some general clubhouse chat, "What would you think of having Bonds sign with Rays" and Madden's reply was, "Sure. That could be a great addition."

But said in tone of voice like, "Sure, I'd also like to have Albert Pujols or ManRam...They would be great additions, too."

Pretty much a non-story in reality.

Me? I wouldn't be surprised to see Bonds sign with an AL club, but it's more likely going to be a team like Oakland or Texas.

And I'd only put that at 50/50. He may well just walk away and leave his HR record for ARod or others to chase.